Preparing for an Appointment with a Singapore ENT Specialist to Treat Your Sinus Problems. Sinusitis is difficult to self-diagnose. You may have sinus problems that you may not know about unless you visit a Singapore ENT specialist. Having any of the common sinusitis symptoms such as facial pressure, oddly colored nasal discharges, pain, cough or a simple nasal drip may require specialized attention as there may be a chronic condition that needs to be addressed especially if the symptoms tend to reoccur or have manifested for longer periods.
Your first starting place should be your primary care physician. If you have been referred to an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist by your primary care physician, you might want to schedule an appointment as soon as possible and prepare for your first visit. If it is your first time requesting the aid of an ENT specialist, you should be aware of a few things that you should be expecting. Following some basic steps and understanding how the exam will unfold will allow you to prepare and make the appointment easier for yourself and the ENT specialist.
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Scheduling an Appointment
You should schedule an appointment with a Singapore ENT specialist after visiting your primary care doctor. The primary care doctor will perform an initial investigation of your condition and will be able to recommend an ENT specialist. With his recommendation at hand, you may call a specialist and schedule an appointment. Remember to have at hand the referral information and your health insurance as they may be requested by the ENT specialist staff when you schedule your visit.
When you consult your primary care doctor and your ENT specialist, do not shy away from asking questions. Whenever you are unsure of something or something is unclear, make sure to ask for clarifications. Even when scheduling the appointment, you should be asking questions and anything that is on your mind should be addressed as it will make the visit easier for yourself and your doctors.
You will also get more information about possible causes for your symptoms that will allow you to prepare for the investigation of your ENT specialist. If your doctor or ENT specialist provides any kind of recommendation when speaking to them over the phone, write them down and try to abide by what they advise.
Taking Notes of Everything
Health is not something to be taken lightly. You should be taking notes of all the recommendations you receive. You should also write down eventual questions that you may want to address as your doctor and ENT specialist should be able to address any concern. You can ask simple questions such as what is causing the symptoms, what treatment options are available, what are the long-term risks, or if any additional health problems can be caused by your current condition.
Before calling to schedule an appointment, it is helpful to write down your symptoms. During the conversation with the staff, you may accidentally leave out some symptoms or forget to mention certain things. Have everything written down and make sure you mention every detail. You should also take into account any other medication you are taking or other preexisting conditions.
The Medical Exam
For the visit, you can bring along a friend or someone that can offer you some support. Not everyone is comfortable around doctors and you should not be ashamed. If there is someone that you can bring to provide moral support, you should ask them to accompany you.
When you arrive for your appointment, remember to ask any questions that you may have. The doctor will also ask about your symptoms and for how long you had them. He will also be interested in knowing if you take any medication and if you have any other illnesses so that he can recommend a treatment that will not interfere or cause other problems. Try to be as accurate as possible when answering his questions.
Once the doctor has a clear picture of your symptoms, he will want to examine your sinuses. Using different medical instruments, he will inspect your nose, ears, and throat. Based on his findings, he may want to use additional instruments such as a nasal endoscope. This visual inspection will help determine the details of your condition and help decide upon treatment.
If the visual inspection may not be enough for the doctor to diagnose you, he may request you to perform a CT scan. He will be able to guide you to schedule an appointment followed by another examination to diagnose your condition.
